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Paulgro
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 18th, 2008 |
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 05:21 am |
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This is what forums are really all about a place to vent and maybe see another way of doing things. Good luck on your job hunting!
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katiem
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| Joined: | Thu Feb 9th, 2006 |
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 02:37 pm |
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| The forum has given me a good venue for venting my frstrations about the job market and I have had some valuable and thought provoking suggestions. Sometimes one just needs outside info and opinions. Thanks everybody for putting up with me and helping me out.
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katiem
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 02:29 pm |
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| One app I got said I must explain any gaps in employment, so I thought being upfront was better than being found out later. Now I'm beginning to think total honesty is not always the best policy. Maybe I should say I've been traveling the world for 2 years! And yes, I'm thinking of with withholding my resume because it seems to intimidate. One interviewer asked if I thought I could work as a team, since I had seemingly worked independantly. I explained that every step in the process of putting together an ad or writing a commercial involved extensive team work. But, like you, I need to pay the bills for now, so will have to settle for what I can get. I only hope it's something I can stand doing!
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Paulgro
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 04:55 am |
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Reading your reply I can see what your problem is you tend to give out more information then you should. If you're asked about any medical conditions during an interview tell them but don't offer anything that isn't asked. Same when applying for a position tone down your qualifications so they meet that position. Believe me I learned this the hard way always being told "you're over qualified" when all I wanted to do was work any job to pay my bills.
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katiem
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 08:33 pm |
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You're absolutely right about having to broaden my search. I've been hesitant about it because of gas prices, unless I'm reasonably sure there will be someone to see or talk to after I get there. It's funny how people who are supposed to be in charge of employment can make themselves scarce when a candidate calls or shows up.
Like your wife I was out for a couple of years , having some surgeries that had to be taken care of before I committed to a job. I've been open about it in my cover letters, to provide an explanation for the gap in my employment. I'm absolutely fine, physically and mentally, but maybe that scared them. I've had both knees replaced and elective surgery to remove a non cancerous, non malignant menengioma near my brain stem. The latter was to prevent the thing possibly from growing and crowding the brain stem. I've had no lasting effects from any of the surgeries other than freedom from pain and peace of mind. I'm back riding and training my horse, which saves my sanity.
Thanks for the response. I'm trying to keep my chin up. And yes, this forum is someplace to vent my frustration. I've probably said as much as I need to to get it off my chest. My son is a Paleontologist at the former Mesa Southwest Museum(now the Arizona Museum of Natural History). He feels I would have more future on that side of town, so I'll ride it out with my horse through the hot summer and if things don't improve by fall, I'll put my condo on the market, pack up the horse and the 2 cats and ride into new territory. I'll never be too old for new adventures!
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Winterguy
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| Joined: | Wed Mar 19th, 2008 |
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 07:28 pm |
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I'm not sure this forum is going to be much help to you, other than giving you an outlet to vent your frustration.
Finding a job in today's market is tough. Competing with unpaid volunteers makes it even tougher. Perhaps you need to broaden your search to include Surprise, Peoria, Glendale and other outlying areas if you haven't already done so. You certainly don't have to leave SC to work somewhere else. Unlike Bill N., I don't want to see you leave.
Yes, you may very well be overqualified in the eyes of the employers. You might have to lower your expectations and prove your merit after you land a job. One big fear employers have when they are faced with overqualified people is the person will leave as soon as a better job becomes available. So you need to convince them that you are really interested in their job. I hate to say this, but it really is not about you and your needs. You need to show them what you can do to meet their needs. With all your experience, you must know you were successful because you were able to provide what your employers needed.
Example: My wife graduated with honors in accounting and worked in fairly high level positions. Then, she left the workforce to raise children. When she was ready to return to the workforce only entry level, mainly clerical, positions were available. She was overqualified, but she wanted a job. When she followed up on a job she had applied for with a major corporation they said,"You really want the job? We didn't think you would be interested with your qualifications." She convinced them she was interested and got the job. It didn't take long after that for her to be promoted into supervisory and managerial level positions. But , you've got to get your foot in the door first.
I hope this discussion helps.
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katiem
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 03:02 pm |
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I hate to keep hammering away at the same subject, but I have written before about my frustration at finding work here. I recently got a letter telling me that my "skill sets" didn't qualify for a part time marketing assistant position in Sun City West. My existing "skill sets" have worked very well for me in Minneapolis, San Francisco and Phoenix, in broadcasting, advertising and editing a community newspaper while selling and billing its ads. Isn't this marketing? The job only paid $9-$15 an hour depending on experience, so maybe they rightfully figured I'd want the $15 and didn't want to pay it. I think many of the people in the office were volunteers, who must not have bills to pay.
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